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Robot Poem Gallery – Google Poetry Robot
I was in a rather artsy mood and decided to create an online gallery of poems. However, these poems are the original work of a “poetry robot”, which I created. Given a few words to start the poem, the robot decides what to write by looking at what people have written on popular & highly…
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New Song: Fat Jazz Variations
I wrote a song called “Fat Jazz Variations” which expresses my sadness to be leaving the band Fat Jazz after 6 great years of playing with the group. It’s a 4 minute solo piano piece that’s kind of pop/classical. On the last chord I added a 6th to the major chord which I think is…
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New Composition: Male Nurse
Yesterday one of my friends was run over by a car. She is OK.In reaction to the whole event, I wrote and recorded a song. Click here to listen.
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New Jazz Trio Album Done
Some exciting news: our new jazz trio CD is done, thanks to excellent mixing and mastering work by Alan Wong Moon. You can listen to it online here. I’ve added a Donation button to that page, and we would appreciate donations if you enjoy the music. By putting the whole album online, and then providing…
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Article: How Jazz Pianists Practice
Jazz pianist Ted Rosenthal has put together a very detailed and comprehensive web page on “How Jazz Pianists Practice” (click here to read). He also posted an interview between himself and Keith Jarrett, and an article about how to incorporate Mozart idioms into jazz playing. More about Ted Rosenthal on his web site.
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Les Hooper – Composer and Arranger
In the Fat Jazz big band (in which I play piano), one of the tunes we are working on is called Poppin’ Fresh by Les Hooper. It turns out that Les Hooper is a prolific composer and arranger who also does work for TV, Movies, Cartoons, Commercials, and more. His web site has some incredible…
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New Orleans Hurricane Victims Benefit Concert
There have been numerous concerts of all sorts of music in support of the New Orleans hurricane victims. At Michigan State University, Rodney Whitaker, who is head of the jazz studies program, is organizing a concert today that includes some New Orleans musicians, for which MSU provided stipends. More details in this article in the…
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Brad Mehldau with Renee Fleming (NPR free recording)
NPR has made available a free online recording of jazz pianist Brad Mehldau performing with mezzo-soprano Renee Fleming in the Creators at Carnegie series.Click here to view the concert details, and then click the “Listen to the Concert” link that appears below the title on that page. It’s wonderful that NPR has made this music…
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David “Fathead” Newman interview
On his web site you can listen to a full length version of saxophonist David “Fathead” Newman’s signature tune, Hard Times (click here). In an interview with the Salt Lake Tribune, David Newman comments: Some people are intimidated by jazz. I don’t like to be derogatory, but people are under the impression that it is…
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Interview with “Mr. Bongo” – Jack Costanzo
Found a fascinating interview with the one and only “Mr. Bongo”, Jack Costanzo. From his own web site (which contains MP3 samples from his album Back from Havana): Jack Costanzo is known and responsible for the popularity of the bongos all over the world. He introduced bongos into American music when he was with the…